U.S. Army Pacific, Commanding General, Lt. Gen. Francis J. Wiercinski hosted the annual Civilian Recognition Award Ceremony, April 17 at the Hale Ikena on Fort Shafter, Hawaii. Wiercinski recognized Department of the Army Civilians located in Hawaii...

U.S. Army Pacific, Commanding General, Lt. Gen. Francis J. Wiercinsk (left) presents "Team Excellence Award" to Michelle Mansker (center) and Kapua Kawelo (right) both from U.S. Army Garrison Hawaii Directorate of Public Works. The presentation was...

U.S. Army Pacific, Commanding General, Lt. Gen. Francis J. Wiercinski hosted the annual Civilian Recognition Award Ceremony, April 17 at the Hale Ikena on Fort Shafter, Hawaii. Wiercinski recognized Department of the Army Civilians located in Hawaii...

"Today we get to honor several tremendous civilian employees," said Wiercinski. "These men and women have been singled out by their peers, not their supervisors, as having done a great job."

Shelly R. Matautia, USARPAC G-6, took top honors in the Professional category; Gareth S. Hashimoto, U.S. Army Garrison Hawaii DPW, was recognized for trades and crafts; Charlene C. Rice-Moses, USARPAC G-4, was honored for her administrative support excellence; Gayle Q. Takiguchi, USARPAC G-8, won for best Supervisor/Manager/Leader; and Cary D. Ulman, U.S. Army Garrison-Pohakuloa, was recognized as the Emerging Leader of the Year.

The award for Team Excellence went to the Oahu Army Natural Resource Program team from USAG-HI's DPW. Team was composed of Michelle Mansker and Kapua Kawelo both from USAG Hawaii Directorate of Public Works.

The final recognition was for a Heroic Act went to James Guenthoer, USAG-P Fire Fighter. Guenthoer was responsible for single-handedly fighting a vehicle fire adjacent to a structure in his local community of Waikea Uka, in Hilo, Hawaii.

"We could not have done what we've done for the last 12 years without our civilian workforce," said Wiercinski. "I saw things in combat down range in places like Afghan and Iraq in caves and places where I would look and see a civilian and say 'how in the world did you get here?' But they are there with us day and night in peace and in war.

"To all our honorees and to our entire civilian workforce, thank you for what you do for us every single day. We don't say it enough."